- - Distribute / setuptools merge, e.g. cratering folks who use a distro-managed 'python-distribute' package.
This is the biggest issue. I wasn't involved and it could have been handled better sure.
what issue are we talking about exactly?
I'm aware of the "Import setuptools" problem during upgrades from distribute to setuptools: https://github.com/pypa/pip/issues/1064 pip-1.4 does prevent that now (released last week)
but you specifically mentioned the linux distro name, "python-distribute"? I'm guessing maybe you're concerned with the scenario of how upgrading some project (that depends on setuptools/distribute) forces an unintended upgrade of distribute on a system where distribute is system-managed. Is there a link to a tracker issue for that somewhere?
but on 2nd thought, this is not a new problem. this would always been happening, just not involving a transition to setuptools. so I imagine, your concern was just the "Import" error?